Stevia plant named &#39;12-05-144&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct  stevia  plant designated as ‘12-05-144’ primarily adapted to produce sweeteners.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Stevia rebaudiana

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘12-05-144’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

I. Field & Utility Summary

This invention relates to a new and distinct stevia plant designated as‘12-05-144’ primarily adapted to produce sweetening agents. The newplant is characterized by a distinct steviol glycoside profile. Steviavariety ‘12-05-144’ is a green herbaceous perennial which grows best inhigh light conditions, in well-drained soil.

II. Cultivation Summary

The new and distinct stevia plant ‘12-05-144’ originated frombi-parental controlled cross of two selections from an open-pollinatedpopulation of stevia in East Lansing, Mich. Female parent ‘10-34’(unpatented) was crossed with male parent ‘10-19’ (unpatented), in EastLansing, in 2012. Stevia ‘12-05-144’ was selected from the plantsresulting from the controlled cross of ‘10-34’ and ‘10-19’.

III. Comparisons

Stevia ‘12-05-144’ Characteristics

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘12-05-144’, which in combinationdistinguish this stevia plant as a new and distinct plant:

-   -   1. medium stevioside concentration    -   2. medium rebaudioside A concentration    -   3. high rebaudioside C concentration    -   4. low rebaudioside D concentration    -   5. very high rebaudioside M concentration    -   6. medium-high total steviol glycosides concentration    -   7. medium-high rebaudioside A percentage (w/w of total steviol        glycosides)    -   8. low rebaudioside D percentage (w/w of total steviol        glycosides)    -   9. high rebaudioside M percentage (w/w of total steviol        glycosides)

Stevia ‘12-05-144’, parent ‘10-34’, parent ‘10-19’, comparator‘12-05-005’, and comparator ‘12-05-149’ differ by the followingcombination of characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 % % % Stevioside Reb A Reb C Reb D Reb M TSG Reb Reb RebGenotype (mg/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) (mg/g) A D M 12-05-144 7.0757.09 5.07 5.16 5.33 79.72 71.6 6.47 6.69 12-05-005 7.26 62.99 5.42 5.424.25 85.34 73.8 6.35 4.98 12-05-149 3.66 47.08 4.11 5.47 3.88 64.20 73.38.52 6.04 10-19 13.46 44.02 4.13 7.94 2.67 72.23 60.9 11.00 3.70 10-3411.67 35.95 4.14 6.34 1.90 60.01 59.9 10.56 3.17 Concentrations are inmg of compound per gram of dry leaf tissue; TSG = total steviolglycosides

Comparator female parent ‘10-34’

Stevia ‘12-05-144’ is distinct from female parent ‘10-34’ in that‘12-05-144’ has lower stevioside concentration, higher rebaudioside Aconcentration, higher rebaudioside C concentration, lower rebaudioside Dconcentration, higher rebaudioside M concentration, higher total steviolglycosides, higher rebaudioside A percentage (w/w of total steviolglycosides), lower rebaudioside D percentage (w/w of total steviolglycosides), and higher rebaudioside M percentage (w/w of total steviolglycosides) than female parent ‘10-34’.

Comparator male parent ‘10-19’

Stevia ‘12-05-144’ is distinct from male parent ‘10-19’ in that‘12-05-144’ has lower stevioside concentration, higher rebaudioside Aconcentration, higher rebaudioside C concentration, lower rebaudioside Dconcentration, higher rebaudioside M concentration, higher total steviolglycosides, higher rebaudioside A percentage (w/w of total steviolglycosides), lower rebaudioside D percentage (w/w of total steviolglycosides), and higher rebaudioside M percentage (w/w of total steviolglycosides) than male parent ‘10-19’.

Comparator ‘12-05-005’

Stevia ‘12-05-005’ (co-pending application) is a selection from the samecontrolled cross of parent ‘10-34’ and parent ‘10-19’ from which‘12-05-144’ was selected.

Stevia ‘12-05-144’ is distinct from comparator ‘12-05-005’ in that‘12-05-144’ lower rebaudioside A concentration, higher rebaudioside Mconcentration, lower total steviol glycoside concentration, lowerrebaudioside A percentage (w/w of total steviol glycosides), and higherrebaudioside M percentage (w/w of total steviol glycosides) thancomparator ‘12-05-005’.

Stevia ‘12-05-144’ is similar to comparator plant ‘12-05-005’ in that‘12-05-144’ has similar stevioside concentration, similar rebaudioside Cconcentration, similar rebaudioside D concentration, and similarrebaudioside D percentage (w/w of total steviol glycosides) tocomparator plant ‘12-05-005’.

Comparator ‘12-05-149’

Stevia ‘12-05-149’ (co-pending application) is a selection from the samecontrolled cross of parent ‘10-34’ and parent ‘10-19’ from which‘12-05-144’ was selected.

Stevia ‘12-05-144’ is distinct from comparator ‘12-05-149’ in that‘12-05-144’ has higher stevioside concentration, higher rebaudioside Aconcentration, higher rebaudioside C concentration, higher rebaudiosideM concentration, higher total steviol glycosides concentration, lowerrebaudioside A percentage (w/w of total steviol glycosides), lowerrebaudioside D percentage (w/w of total steviol glycosides), and higherrebaudioside M percentage (w/w of total steviol glycosides) thancomparator ‘12-05-149’.

Stevia ‘12-05-144’ is similar to comparator ‘12-05-149’ in that‘12-05-144’ has similar rebaudioside D concentration to comparator plant‘12-05-149’.

IV. Breeding History

The new and distinct stevia originated from a controlled cross of thestevia selection ‘10-34’ (female parent; unpatented)×stevia selection‘10-19’ (male parent; unpatented). This cross was made and the resultingseedlings grown in East Lansing, Mich. The present seedling was selectedfrom the controlled breeding program in 2012 and was designated‘12-05-144’.

V. Asexual Reproduction

Stevia plant ‘12-05-144’ has been asexually propagated by cuttings since2012 and was established in tissue culture in 2013 in East Lansing,Mich.

VI. Stability

Asexual propagation as described has demonstrated that the combinationof traits that characterize this plant are fixed and remain true to typethrough at least five successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying color photographs show typical specimens of the newplant at various stages of development as nearly true as it is possibleto make in color reproductions. Color in the photographs may differslightly from the color value cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describes the color of ‘12-05-144’. Thephotograph was taken in East Lansing, Mich. in October 2014.

FIG. 1 Stevia plant in field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The photographs together with the description of stevia ‘12-05-144’ arebased upon the observations taken during the 2014 growing season in EastLansing, Mich. The following description of stevia plant ‘12-05-144’contains references to color names taken from The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition. Botanical descriptionsfollow the Manual of Cultivated Plants (Bailey, 1949). Stevia plant‘12-05-144’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions and as such the characteristics may vary in detail dependingon weather conditions, day length, soil type and location.

-   Plant (average, at maturity):    -   -   Shape.—upright to semi-upright.        -   Habit.—herbaceous perennial.        -   Branching habit.—freely branching basal nodes.        -   Number of nodes on main stem.—19.        -   Height.—290.1 mm.        -   Width.—189.3 mm.        -   Number of stems arising from base.—1.0.        -   Main stem length.—290.1 mm.        -   Main stem diameter at midpoint.—4.7.        -   Number of branches(arising from lower half of stem).—4.0.        -   Branch angle from main stem.—36°.        -   Main stem color.—green 141B.-   Leaves:    -   -   Shape.—simple.        -   Arrangement on stem.—generally opposite.        -   Margin.—serrated.        -   Dorsal color.—green 137A.        -   Ventral color.—green 137C.        -   Venation color.—green 137C.        -   Leaf angle from main stem.—81°.        -   Width.—9.7 mm.        -   Length, including petiole.—40.1.        -   Thickness.—<1 mm.        -   Length of petiole.—3.2 mm.        -   Petiole color.—green 138B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Type.—paniculate-corymbose.        -   Floret shape.—tubular.        -   Stigma.—exserted.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—5.1 mm.        -   Depth of inflorescence.—7.5 mm.        -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—4.8.        -   Length of peduncle.—13.5 mm.        -   Number of sepals per floret.—0.        -   Number of petals per floret.—1.        -   Number of stigmas per floret.—2.        -   Floret diameter.—4.0 mm.        -   Bud color.—green 138B.        -   Stigma color.—white 155A.        -   Petal color.—white 155A.        -   Sepal color.—green 138B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Type.—achenes.-   Disease resistance and climate tolerance: Resistant to aphids,    tolerant to wind.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct stevia plant as hereindescribed and illustrated.